Kim Myles: Life, Style and Design

Interior design maven and host of HGTV's "Myles of Style," Kim Myles, will answer a question submitted from an ESSENCE.com reader every day. Kim believes that interior design should offer a lifestyle that's chic, vibrant and attainable for every homeowner or renter. "My goal is to offer simple solutions that help the average person achieve the look that they want without going into debt. There is absolutely no reason for great design to be overly expensive or exclusive," she declares. Today's topic: Having fun with paint Dear Kim, My daughter is a big fan of sponging paint onto the walls to give the walls an antique effect. Are there other ways to apply paint that is non-traditional. Are stripes of paint cool? KIM MYLES: The thing about paint is that there are endless possibilities for color and application, and sponging is just the beginning. I always suggest trolling the internet for ideas so that you can see final results and decide what interests you. I'm a fan of feathering metallic paint over a rich warm base by working in small sections and dry brushing in an 'X' pattern. The effect is soft, rich and very textural. Stripes are classic and fun; consider playing with finish versus color: one color alternating between flat and high-gloss is chic and simple. Read more:

Need help selecting furniture for your space? Have a disagreement with your spouse on a color to paint your walls? Toddlers making your home look like a storm rolled through it and need help adjusting for their mess? Send your design question to webmaster@essence-online.com. Please keep the questions brief and as detailed as possible. Remember, the more information you offer, the more Kim will be able to help!